To Regina and Amelia:
 
>Also, are there any poisonous beetles that I should be aware of?  Amelia has
>really whole-heartedly embraced the noble sport of beetle-pouncing and
>crunching.
 
        While there are some species of poisonous beetles in the U.S., one that
causes problem in horses when it's trapped and crushed in poorly cured hay, and
one that may affect foodstuffs which has small hairs that cause an intense
inflammatory reaction n the intestine when eaten, the chance of encountering a
poisonous beetle out in the yard are fairly slim.  But remember - some people
may spray for insects and insecticides may be introduced to your pet in this
fashion (although this is likely a very slim chance also.)
 
--
Bruce Williams, DVM, DACVP              Department of Veterinary Pathology
[log in to unmask]               Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
[log in to unmask]             Washington, D.C.  20306-6000
(202) 782-2600/2602
[Posted in FML issue 1188]